A bison herd on the Fort Belknap Reservation in Montana. Photo from Defenders of Wildlife

Landowners on the Fort Belknap Indian Community started receiving offers for their fractional interests as part of the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations.

Some $54 million in offers went out to more than 3,500 owners on the reservation. The deadline to respond is July 18.

"We're in a position where we can consolidate these lands, and maybe even help some young Indian operators get started in the cattle ranching business or something like that," Margey Azure, the tribe's buy-back coordinator, told The Great Falls Tribune.

Another $176 million in offers went out to landowners on the Fort Peck Reservation. The deadline to respond there is July 30.

The $3.4 billion Cobell settlement provided $1.9 billion for Indian landowners who want to sell their fractionated interests. DOI will pay "fair market value" as required by the Indian Land Consolidation Act.

Participation is entirely voluntary. Any land that is acquired will be returned to tribes.

As of May 29, DOI has extended nearly $1.4 billion in offers to nearly 49,000 owners. Some $445.4 million in transactions have been concluded so far, according to a chart posted on the program's website.

The equivalent of more than 718,000 acres have been returned to tribal governments as a result of the program.

Get the Story:
$54 million offered for tribal land on Fort Belknap Reservation (The Great Falls Tribune 6/11)

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